Chereads / MATED TO THE DARK LORD [BL] / Chapter 9 - THE PRINCE'S CONFESSION

Chapter 9 - THE PRINCE'S CONFESSION

"Well, let's see, you will be at least a meter close to an electric cooker burning at nine hundred and thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit, which is highly unacceptable, so cold, Right?!" Chen Ling whisper-yelled sarcastically, tightening his hold around Yuri who still looked at him as if he had grown another head.

"Nine hundred and thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit is by no means cold it is scalding hot," Yuri said in a matter-of-fact tone, oblivious to Chen Ling's obvious satire.

"Whatever, you are not going near that melting machine, the sun has cooked you enough." Chen Ling replied in a bored tone, not bothering to correct Yuri that his earlier words were sarcastic.

"Okay, I will think of something else." Yuri softly muttered, not wanting to argue with the senior.

"Good boy, the foot rub offer is still up though." Chen Ling muttered as Yuri got more comfortable in his arms.

Yuri hummed at his senior's suggestion and further melted in the older's arms, before he knew it, he was out like a light.

-

"Everyone gather around!" A bulky shirtless senior hollered, hitting an iron bat on each room door, except one, in an attempt to wake them up for an impromptu floor meeting.

"What the fu- bird, Jun Gang!" An angry voice shouted from one of the boys' rooms,

"It's Yuri, assholes." The senior who identifies as Jun Gang screamed back.

In the blink of an eye, all the seniors scrambled to the common room, just to see a serene figure holding a mug of hot coffee in their hands while sitting with folded legs on one of the common room's couches.

"Yuri, what the he- bird?!" Sam asked with wide eyes and squatted in front of the younger to check if the younger was alright.

Yuri noticing his seniors's worries, gave them a blinding smile to reassure them.

"He woke me up at six-thirty in the morning, told me to wake 'the guys' up, that he had something to discuss with us." Jun Gang briefly informed, and the other seniors slightly relaxed.

"What is wrong, pumpkin?" Sam asked, still in his crouched position, caressing Yuri's cheek.

"Oh, it's nothing alarming." Yuri nervously replied, chewing on his bottom lip and fidgeting with his fingers.

"That is not nothing alarming." A senior said, making Yuri snap his head up to look at his seniors with a shaky mild smile.

"Spit it out." Lin Feng urged but refrained from raising his voice at Yuri who looked like he was about to pee himself.

"Ew, that is a very disgusting idiomatic expression." Another senior said in disgust, making gagging sounds.

"Overly dramatic," Sam muttered with an eye roll.

Yuri could not help the smile of amusement that spread on his face, seeing the seniors bickering.

"Shut the bird up, and let's listen to our dear Yuri." Chen Ling sarcastically said, but Yuri gave him a thankful smile, not taking note of the sarcasm.

Yuri cleared his throat and his fidgeting paused, opting to place his hands on his lap which Sam took a hold of almost immediately, reassuringly.

"Um, I just want to apologize for the recent incident that happened," Yuri said in an almost whisper with his head bowed.

"And?" One of the seniors mocked with a scoff, making Yuri visibly flinch.

"Yuri, raise your head." A stern voice which undoubtedly belongs to Zheng Wei ordered.

Yuri hesitantly raised his head and was met with the looks of disapproval on the faces of the seniors, which made his eyes water and his fidgeting resume.

"If you want to apologize, say it like you mean it, don't say it because you don't want us to stay mad at you, say it because it's the right thing, and say it like you mean it." Zheng Wei lectured, burying the need to raise his voice.

"You barely spoke up, and you left no room for eye contact, are you speaking to yourself?" Jun Gang continued, giving Yuri a dirty look.

"Say it like you are not going to repeat it, like you mean it, pumpkin." Sam urged with a kind smile, massaging Yuri's palm with his thumb.

Yuri raised his head, and his red teary eyes came into view, as the seniors held back the instinctual urge to comfort him.

"I am sorry, I know I am a very bad boy for not listening to my older brothers, that was very unfilial of me, you guys are always at your best in listening to me and protecting me, I appreciate your efforts, but it always feels like I am always messing things up," Yuri paused to look at the seniors' reactions, but found it unchanging, then continued;

"You guys are the closest form of family I have here, and I'm afraid I will mess things up, I know you want what is best for me, but I keep acting like a spoiled brat, I keep acting like it doesn't matter, but it does, I don't know what I would do if I lose you guys too," The seniors almost couldn't make out his words because he was hiccuping in between his words, which inevitably broke each seniors hearts.

"I would not be able to survive college without you, you guys are like the older brothers I never had while growing up, I know it hasn't been long since we met, but it always feels like I have known you guys since forever; it's refreshing being with familiar people," Yuri confessed and paused to wipe his face with his sleeves, then continued;

"I know it's hard to keep up with a person like me; I am whiny, grumpy, and stubborn, but you guys still bear with me and take care of me like I am your long-lost baby brother, I am sorry for not listening to you, I know I am not perfect, but I will try to be more adhering to your words." At this point, Yuri was already bawling into his hands, dreading what was to come since the seniors remained awfully quiet.

Yuri hesitantly peeled his hands from his face, summoning up every last bit of courage, and raised his tear-soaked and red face to look at the seniors, then chocked out four words that would leave an indelible mark on the already aching hearts of the seniors;

"Please don't leave me,"